The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-10-13

THE evil effects of continuing war taxes
will soon be felt in the contraction Of the
circulating medium. The government
receipts are now s10,OO0,0O0 per month
more than its expenditures, so that &c.
100000 are withdrawn monthly from
circulation. Until recently this surplus
could be paid out for bonds which had
matured under the governments option.
But the option is now with the bond
holders and the government is powerless
to put in circulation the currency it takes
in In excess of its needs. Any attempt
to lessen taxation is denounced as a de-
liberate purpose to iniure home indus
tries.
Thus by hugging fiction the country
is approaching dangerous crisis and
party success so obscures patriotic duty
that the glories of protection are preach
ed, experience having shown that that
fallacy is most productive of votes.-
"After me the deluge" appears to be the
motto of the republican party when it
seeks present success by perpetuating a
system which appeals to the cupidity of
laborers though giving birth to brood
of evils which threaten the prosperity of
the country.
So highly valued is the party cry, pro
lection to American industries" that
even those who clearly perceive the evil
consequences of the system built upon
this sentiment, and the dangers which
are imminent because OF it, seek to delay
the inevitable by recourse to some exped-
lent, not to permanently remove the
danger by striking at the root.
When the taxation is direct and the
revenue from the taxes is greater than
the need which caused the tax, the RENE
dy applied is as simple as efficacious:-
Reduce the taxes. But when the taxes
are collected in disguise and appear as
part of the purchase price of articles of
necessity, no complaint is heard because
though the wrong is felt it is not located.
This is why people are hoodwinked by
protection arguments of good wages"
and ''home markets" They do not see
that they are taxed to preserve this illu-
usion of home market and good wages
Under direct taxation the demand would
be: Reduce the taxes. With the pro-
tectionists it is: Increase the expenditures
of the government, or Take the taxes off
whiskey and tobacco.
1t is quite evident that if S10,000,000 is
slowed away monthly in the vaults Of the
treasury, there will be a scarcity of the
circulating medium in a short time. The
protectionists see that some means must
be employed to return to circulation
what has been withdrawn from it in pur-
suance Of the policy of heavy taxation.
The devices are as follows: o. A pension
law which will give to old soldiers all the
surplus. (2) Expanding the surplus in
erecting coast defenses. 81 Extending
national aid to public schools. The OBJ
ject in each case is to spend money. The
protective system has driven the United
States to search for some means to spend
money. It makes extravaganza a virtue
and economy crime. 1t requires no
study of political economy to perceive
that any system which leads to reversal
of economic principles which are axiom
| attic must be pernicious one.
But, we are told, if it is desirable to
lessen the revenue of the government,
reduce the internal revenue, tax on
home productions. And here again is the
adroit pretense of concern for home IT,
dustries. 1t is disingenuous,- sample
of pinchbeck patriotism. While custom
| duties, taxes on imported articles,-are
largely on necessities, internal revenue
comes from taxes on tobacco and whisky.
So that protectionists recognizing the
necessity Of reducing taxes, periodically
suggest that likes be continued on wool
en- blankets and like articles, and remov-
ed from tobacco and whiskey! And they
claim merit for the suggestion as it is
taking burden from home industries!
| But these ''springes to catch woodcock
catch the laborer and on election day his
voice is for protection.
They are caught by the pleasing sound
protection and make no inquiry as to
what that protection is. The patent
medicine which promises to cure every
thing is most eagerly sought. One Of the
few things it does cure is the emptiness
in its discoveries pocket. But the medi-
sing to afflicted humanity, and afflicted
humanity believes and swallows. Pro-
lection would never be thought of were
it not for the good it is doing the laborer